Alexander Isak and Victor Munoz faced a hostile reception at St James’ Park as Liverpool snatched a late 2-2 draw. Here is why Newcastle fans targeted both players.
If Alexander Isak needed any reminder of the bridge he blew up on his way out of Tyneside, the thunderous chorus of disapproval that greeted his every touch at St James’ Park on Sunday provided a fairly unsubtle hint.
The Swedish striker’s blockbuster £125m move to Anfield last summer ensured his return to the North East would be played out in a cauldron of pure, unadulterated hostility. Newcastle fans had waited months for their chance to let Isak know precisely what they thought of his exit strategy. They did not hold back.
Yet while Isak knew full well what was coming his way, Victor Munoz might have been forgiven for feeling a touch bewildered as the local ire was diverted in his direction. Every pass, every run, and every touch from the Spaniard was met with a wall of noise. The reason? Simply having the audacity to choose Liverpool over Newcastle.
The Snub That Stung
Much like Hugo Ekitike the year before him, Munoz found himself cast as the villain in Newcastle’s eyes for making a decision that, from a footballing perspective, required little deliberation.
The World Cup winner had appeared bound for St James’ Park, with negotiations reportedly at an advanced stage, before Liverpool made their move. Once the Reds made their interest known, the dynamic shifted instantly. Munoz jumped at the opportunity to pull on the famous red shirt, leaving the Magpies stranded at the altar.
Tyneside naturally viewed the change of heart as a direct slight. Newcastle’s support treated the snub as a personal insult, resolving to make the midfielder’s afternoon as uncomfortable as possible.
Sobering Reality Check
Unfortunately for the host, hostile atmospheres have a funny way of backfiring. Where Isak looked momentarily subdued by the wall of noise, Munoz simply thrived on it.
He didn’t need to match Ekitike’s dramatic goalscoring heroics from last term to make his mark. Instead, his directness and refusal to be cowed proved decisive. With seconds ticking away and Liverpool trailing, it was Munoz whose sharp movement drew the foul inside the box, winning the high-drama late penalty that Dominik Szoboszlai coolly converted to snatch a 2-2 draw.
The booing was meant to rattle him; instead, it fueled the very moment that denied Newcastle all three points.
The bitter irony won’t be lost on the home support. Rather than directing their fury at a player who merely chose the option of joining a genuine footballing powerhouse, Newcastle fans might be better served aiming their frustration at their own recruitment department for letting such a talent slip through their fingers in the first place.
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